Lincolnshire Police showcases their new ‘RPU’ team of ‘dedicated’ officers

Lincolnshire Police showcases their new ‘RPU’ team of ‘dedicated’ officers

Lincolnshire Police have showcased the latest addition, the Roads Policing Unit (RPU), which features a dedicated team of officers who will proactively patrol the roads of Lincolnshire.

They aim to reduce serious and fatal collisions, promote road safety, and target criminals who use the road network to commit a crime. They will support the county response including local policing, neighbourhood policing, and criminal investigation too.

In 202, the Chief Constable dedicated the new roads policing department. The role had previously been performed as a dual function of the Armed Policing Unit.

The Roads Policing Unit (RPU) has two Sergeants and 18 Constables and is based at two locations in Lincolnshire.

This will give the RPU a footprint across the county and vastly improve police visibility on our roads.

“The first officers on the team started at Grantham in January 2022 and today sees the opening of our second base at Louth.” Lincolnshire Police said.

Chief Inspector Pat Coates, Specialist Operations, said: “Our new Roads Policing Unit is vital in keeping people safe on Lincolnshire’s roads because they will bring a new focus on keeping road users safe from harm.  Every serious collision we attend is a life-changing event for those involved.  By engaging with road users, educating, and enforcing road traffic legislation, we aim to reduce the number of people who have their lives potentially devastated by a road traffic collision.

“The team will support the work of their colleagues across the county in targeting criminals, removing opportunities for them to travel, and commit a crime in our communities.

“By targeting drivers who are disqualified, driving without a license or insurance, drive with defective vehicles, drivers who are unfit through drink or drugs, steal vehicles, and those whose sole purpose is to commit a crime, we aim to remove those offenders who cause the biggest threat on our roads.

All the RPU officers will be trained in advanced driving standards, be trained in tactical pursuits and containment (TPAC), specialist traffic law, including HGVs, prohibition of vehicles, and, the carriage of dangerous goods.

Chief Constable Chris Haward said: “The new team transform our road policing capacity.  Road safety is of the utmost importance to the people of Lincolnshire and also to those who visit. Our aim is to make this county the safest place to live, work and visit.

“Addressing the dangers that are inherent around road use by dedicating officers to this role will, I hope, have swift and meaningful results. Not only that but making sure that our RPU officers are the first port of call for anything relating to incidents on our roads frees up other officers to be able to deal with other priorities affecting our communities.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones said: “With the support of council taxpayers in Lincolnshire, the Police Uplift Programme, and careful financial planning, my long-standing ambition to see the creation of dedicated roads policing team has now become a reality.

“The Roads Policing Unit will reinforce efforts to reduce the number of serious and fatal collisions – as well as targeting offenders who use our roads to travel into the county to commit a crime.

“The Chief Constable and I listen carefully to our communities, when asked, road safety is one area that always comes high on the list of priorities. This new team will enhance the work already being done to keep communities and residents safe in the county.”

(Image: Lincolnshire Police)